Top 5 C++ Containers Libraries

C++ containers are essential for managing collections of data with different requirements for organization, access, and modification. They allow developers to manage groups of objects efficiently, without implementing data structures from scratch.

The video below provides an introduction to the basics of C++ containers.

Several C++ container libraries extend beyond the Standard Template Library (STL) and are favored for their specific features, performance optimizations, and added functionality. Here are some of the most popular and highly regarded C++ container libraries:

1. Boost Containers

  • Description: Boost is one of the most extensive and widely used libraries in the C++ community, providing many container types that extend STL’s functionality.
  • Notable Containers: boost::unordered_map, boost::multi_index_container, and boost::circular_buffer.
  • Strengths: Known for being highly optimized and reliable, Boost provides additional containers, like the multi-index container, that allow multiple ways to index data, which STL lacks.
  • Use Cases: When you need containers with specialized behaviors (e.g., circular buffers or multi-indexed data structures) that are also compatible with STL.

2. Folly (Facebook’s Open Source Library)

  • Description: Folly is a performance-oriented library developed by Facebook, intended for large-scale C++ programs.
  • Notable Containers: folly::small_vector, folly::F14FastMap, and folly::AtomicHashMap.
  • Strengths: Folly’s containers, such as F14FastMap, are highly optimized for speed and can outperform standard maps in certain scenarios.
  • Use Cases: For applications where high throughput and low latency are crucial, Folly provides containers that are designed to handle the needs of large-scale data processing.

3. Abseil Containers (from Google)

  • Description: Abseil provides optimized versions of standard containers as part of Google’s suite of C++ libraries.
  • Notable Containers: absl::flat_hash_map, absl::flat_hash_set, and absl::InlinedVector.
  • Strengths: Abseil containers are designed for performance, particularly in reducing memory fragmentation and improving cache locality. absl::flat_hash_map is known for its efficiency compared to std::unordered_map.
  • Use Cases: Ideal for performance-critical applications where memory and speed are priorities, Abseil containers are optimized for scenarios common in Google-scale applications.

4. Intel Threading Building Blocks (TBB) Containers

  • Description: Part of Intel’s TBB library, these containers are designed with multi-threading in mind.
  • Notable Containers: tbb::concurrent_vector, tbb::concurrent_hash_map, and tbb::concurrent_queue.
  • Strengths: Provides thread-safe versions of common containers, optimized for high-performance, concurrent access without the need for external synchronization.
  • Use Cases: Best suited for multi-threaded environments where multiple threads need to safely access and modify shared data without explicit locking.

5. Eastl (Electronic Arts Standard Template Library)

  • Description: EA’s own version of the STL, designed specifically for performance in gaming environments.
  • Notable Containers: eastl::vector, eastl::fixed_vector, and eastl::hash_map.
  • Strengths: EA’s containers are optimized for speed, often outperforming the STL in real-time applications. Many containers in EASTL are designed with fixed-size allocations to avoid dynamic memory overhead.
  • Use Cases: Primarily in game development or other real-time applications where performance is critical, and memory allocations need to be minimized.

Each of these libraries provides container options tailored to specific application needs, whether for high-performance single-threaded applications, multi-threaded systems, or resource-constrained environments like gaming.